Not that there's anything really wrong with that. I'm actually glad to know that most of the people whom I used to think had "mere tendencies" have now come out and finally (finally!) showed their true colors. Like you.

            What I don't get is why we have to keep talking about the same thing over and over again. I get it. You don't have to scream---no, squeal. I know you're gay. You've made that perfectly clear when you started hitting on the current object of my affection. Yes, I notice he's a guy, a man just like you. No, I did not see his well-chiseled, manly frame through his shirt. Yes, I get it, you like him too. I heard you the first time, when you raved loudly over his "cute ass."

            I can only imagine how it must've been difficult for you to come out of the closet, and what it must be like to re-evaluate yourself. To assess and scrutinize every little detail about yourself that you never bothered to analyze before (which most of your friends, including me, had already figured out for you years ago).

            But does this mean you must revamp your entire personality, with no trace of your former heterosexual self left? Do you really, really have to greet everyone with a slightly higher pitch "hello" and follow it up with "By the way, I came out" or "Hi, My name's ___ and I'm gay"? It's as if your identity is just plain stuck in the limbo of gay-ness, where the word 'gay' creeps up in every conversation and you keep insisting on kissing all of your new gay friends on the cheeks.

            No, please, I don't think I want to know what you did with that guy last night. Spare me the details. You're happy, I'm happy. You're gay. You're finally gay.

            I guess you haven't told your parents yet. And it doesn't seem to bother you at all. Well, why should it? They'll never know. Or at least not until you're ready to tell them. You know what never ceases to amaze me? The fact that you could be so gay inside the classroom but act like your former self at home or at your silly choir meetings. But then again, that's not really your problem now, eh? You're more worried about the guy who keeps calling you, obviously dying to ask you out "for coffee" or "to a movie." I bet it'll work out great. You'll be fine.

            It's as if I don't know you anymore. Sure, you're still the same old you, it's just that you're gay now. And being gay is all that matters to you now. I hope it's just for now.

            Now, can we talk about something else?